Brock a pleasant surprise for Illini

John Supinie

Friday

Nov 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMNov 30, 2007 at 7:47 PM

Illinois guard Calvin Brock became lost in the shuffle this fall as three returning starters and seven newcomers searched for playing time. Yet six games into the season, the most pleasant surprise for coach Bruce Weber has been the play of Brock, a fourth-year junior from Chicago Simeon High School known more for his athleticism than basketball skill.

Illinois guard Calvin Brock became lost in the shuffle this fall as three returning starters and seven newcomers searched for playing time.

Since center Shaun Pruitt earned first-team preseason all-Big Ten and forward Brian Randle entered the basketball season healthy, the two seniors grabbed much of the attention in the preseason. The rest of it was spread among a freshman class that was more intriguing than overwhelming.

Yet six games into the season, the most pleasant surprise for coach Bruce Weber has been the play of Brock, a fourth-year junior from Chicago Simeon High School known more for his athleticism than basketball skill.

Brock had 13 points and seven rebounds Wednesday in the 69-61 loss at Maryland in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge road game. In the last three games, Brock averaged 13 points and six rebounds. Considering the competition (i.e., Duke, Oklahoma State and Maryland), it's the best stretch of his career.

"I think I'm playing the same (as last year),'' Brock said. "The only thing I'm doing more is shooting. I'm a threat on offense. I've been working on my midrange shot. When I'm open, I look for it. When you're out there on the court, you have to be a threat or people are going to play off you. I've been working on my offense. I'm trying to show it a little more.''

Brock's career has been hampered by inconsistent play and failing to meet requirements set by Weber. Brock averaged 9.0 points and 5.2 rebounds in the first six games and started the last two. Brock reached double figures in four of the first six games, scoring two points apiece in games against Northeastern and Arizona State.

"Calvin has been pretty consistent in this stretch since the Hawaii game,'' Weber said. "It's a positive thing. Now hopefully he can continue that.''

His next chance comes when Illinois (4-2) hosts Weber State (2-3) at Assembly Hall on Saturday (4 p.m., Big Ten Network). He averaged 16.3 points in three games last year against low-major competition before failing to score more than seven points in any of the last 25 games. He finished with season averages of 5.0 points and 1.6 rebounds.

"I still have to improve on my defense,'' Brock said. "I had a lot of times (against Maryland) where I lost my man. I have to learn to be more mature down the stretch, make the easier play instead of trying to make a harder pass and turning the ball over.''

Brock logged just eight minutes in the two exhibition games but already earned all-tournament at the Maui Invitational.

"I talked to him after the all-tournament team,'' Randle said. "I told him that's the way he should play every game. That's where he should gauge himself.''

Otherwise the loss at Maryland left Weber pondering other issues. Pruitt's 10 points against the Terps came on 4-for-16 shooting.

"He's got to finish,'' Weber said. "He's got to make some plays. Some of it is double-teaming him. He had some open looks. He didn't get it done.''

Randle had two fouls in the first 5 minutes 7 seconds and sat the rest of the first half, continuing a career-long problem with foul trouble.

"We talked about taking him out after one foul,'' Weber said. "Get him out, let him sit and watch a little bit. I'm kicking myself. That's something I'm learning.''